Improvement in velocipedes



J. REPETTI.

Velocipede.

Patemed Nov. v16, 1869'.

No. 96,963.'v

N PETERS. Punto-UTHDGMEHER. WASHINGTON. D c4 niini tetra @sind dimite.

Leners Patent No. 96,963, man November 16, iste.

IMPROVEMENT IN. VELOCIPEDES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patentfand making part of the same.

Be it knownthat I, JOSEPH RnPE'rTI, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State otPenn- Sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements is Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure-l is a side view,

Figure 2, a plan, and

Figure 3, a section ofthe back axle, showing its peculiar construction.

The velocipede herein described is of the threewheeled kind, the front wheel a being used as a guidewheel, as usual.

The back axle is made so, that for the purpose of ,changing the direction of the motion of the machine,

one of the wheels c c may be turned independently of the other.

The axle is not continuous from one wheel to the other, but is cut in two inthe middle, each part, b, having independent bearings, andan independent propeiling-apparatus.

The wheels are fastened upon pins, d (I, which latter are united with the axle-sections b b, by means of couplings e e, in such a manner that they maybe readily detached, so that, with the wheels c c removed, the apparatus may be putlthrongh a narrower space than would otherwise be possible.

In tig. 3 are shown two kinds of couplings, by which the connection may be eiected, but it is not necessary to describe them more fully, as similar appliances are daily used in common shafting Each part lfb of the vdriving-axle is supported and turns in bearings ff g g j' f being connected with the bearing It ofthe stirrup i, by means of' the brace-rods jj; and g g, after being united with ff by the ribs q y', vsupport and connect the seat lf andguide-lever a', from whence another extension runs to the boss or bearing h.

Another brace runs off immediately above g y', carries the pulley-support p', and then also joins the boss h. f

The power is applied to the machine by means of levers m m, which oscillate upon thehnbs ofthe cams n n, .which latter carry straps o o.A

l These straps pass over pulleys p p, and have their ends provided with hubs q q, capable of sliding freely along the levers m, and of being fastened at any point thereon by set-screws, or otherwise, so that by moving the hubs q q away or toward the fulcrum of the levers m m, an equal motion ofthe latter will produce a greater or less angular movement of the cams n n.

This angular motion is communicated to the axles b b by means of helical springsgr/lf, contained in the interior ofn a, and wound loosely around b and l1. One

i end of these springsA being fastened to the cams, it follows, that when the latter are pulled by the straps o o in one direction, the springs contract diametrically,`

grasping h b firmly, thereby causing the latter to rcvolve with the cams. l

Zhen the cams 4a nare pulled back tothciroriginal position by the springsA r 'r the convolution's of the springs t' lr expand, release their hold upon the axles b b, (allowing the latter. to continue their previous for-A ward motion,) and the levers or treadlcs are elevated,

ready for the next stroke.

The bearing h, for the stirrup c, contains a helical.

vspringys, through which the cylindrical steine of stirrup passes, one end of the spring pressing against the in terior of the top'of the bearing h, while the lower end bears against the collar n on the stem t, so. that any shocks to the forward wheel, caused by inequalities of the ground, -will thereby be neutralized.

Thetop ofthe stem t, carries the wheel c', t0 which cords 'u' are fastened, at '1l/Q -These cords pass to the double lever Ax, so that by `turning the 'latter' on its fulcrum, its motion iscommunicated to the stem t and stirrup yi by means of said cords, thereby changing the motion of the machine to a dii'erent direction.

The brake consists of a shoe, y, supported by a lcver, s.

A cord, z, connects with the outward arm of this lever in such a manner, that by pulling said cord, the shoe tightens upon the tire ofthe wheel'.

. It will be noticed that the cord passes through the side of the stem t, and out at its centre at the top, so

that its'motion `cannot be aiiected by the vertical oscillating motion ot' the sti-rrup.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The operator occupies the seat k, touching with his feet the treadlcs m m. By depressing the treadles alternately, or atthe same time, the straps o o pull the cams n n around, and the springs'r 1', in' their interior, tightening on the axle-sections b b, revolve them and the hind wheels c c, and tlius carry the machine forward.

If the operator asccnds a steep hill, the danger of the machine running backward and becoming unmanageable is in this contrivance entirely avoided, as, on the backward motion ofthe vehicle, thehelical springs r lr at once tighten ou' the axles b b, and prevent all further motion.

I do not claim, as my invention, the idea vof producing an intermittent revolving motion hy'mcans of hcl ical springs; but l That I claim, is- 1. The helical springs fr r, in combination with the axle-sections l1 b, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the helical springs i/'fr with the cams n n, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. y

3. The combination of the helical springs /r-r and cams n u with the levers or treadles m m, Jstraps o o,

' pulleys p1), and support p', together with the springs r lr', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The'arrangement' ofthe bearings ff g g, for the axles b b, ribs g' y, bracefrods jj, and sea-t k, substnm tially as and for the purpose herein specified. l

5. The opening for the brake-cord z, entering the side ofthe stem t, and issuing therefrom at the centre of its upper end, substantiztlly as and for the purpose set forth in this specification.

In witness whereof', I have signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this day of JOSEPH REPETTI.

` fitnessesz GEORGE L. KITsoN, J. It. MASSEY.' 

